Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy

It’s not for everyone, but IMSA was the best three years of my life at the time.
I was a little homesick to begin with, but by the time first semester was over I did not want to go home over extended weekends or breaks. I would become IMSA-​sick, and miss all the amazing friends I had grown close to there. It was a time where I developed as a person, became more confident in myself and my abilities, and became more independent and responsible (for what it’s worth as a teenager).
Pros:
*GREAT academics, teachers, and unique learning style
* A place to fit in if you are on the geeky side
*Freedom to set your own schedule during the day (it is on a block schedule, like college)
* Adjusts you emotionally/​mentally for college
* Neat facility/​dorms/​grounds, lots of places to hang out, exercise in-​or outdoors study, or relax
* thriving extracurriculars (at least when I was there)
* Awesome dorms– only 1 roommate/​room, with your own bathroom and heating/​AC unit. You’ll never find that in college for under $ 10k/​semester!
* Great support network– counselors, residential staff, mentoring w/​upperclassmen, friends.
* Weekend day trips/​evening outings available
* Intersession!
* Mentorship– opportunity to conduct research at universities/​hospitals/​labs/​other facilities in the Chicago area. Great experience, and great for building your resume.
Cons:
* Unless you are a truly gifted natural genius, you will have to work hard.
* The arts/​lit department could use some bulking up. but it is called the MATH and SCIENCE academy after all.
* 10pm check-​in at the halls– this is both a pro and con. Con if you procrastinated on a project and need to stay out to work on it. But also a pro, in retrospect years later. If they had let a bunch of teenagers go without a set, early-​ish bedtime, they would have run amok, never get work done, and keep dormmates awake until wee hours of the morning. That structure was good. And you can always ask for permission to stay out later, it’s the RC’s discretion.
* People bitch about the food, but I really didn’t see anything horribly wrong with it. Yes they did have some pretty funky things on occasion. But after a few years living on your own, you will appreciate 3 meals offered (included in room/​board) per day. There is a good variety of healthy and not-​so healthy, and some of their dishes I really liked!
* Competition– with a whole school full of overachievers, this is inevitable. You will no longer feel like the smartest kid in school. You will begin to doubt yourself, and compare yourself to others. You need to come to the realization that this is high school. That B+ or A– or C+ will not matter a few years from now, it is not the end of the world if you are not the best of the best. You are at a wonderful school, trying hard, and that should be all that matters. Make the most of it.

Ha. I think it’s funny people review IMSA. But to be fair, I’ve met some of my closest friends from there, and truly appreciated my experience.
While the majority of us IMSA grads are pretty geeky (admit it… how often do you see cuts for math team in other normal high school?), there is a lasting bond that happens at IMSA for all that go there… is it the tough homework? The rules of checking into our wing at 10:00 PM and being stuck in side? The inability to have a car? The terrible cafeteria food? Who knows… all I can say is, it’s like being in college before college… with more rules, and a smaller, tighter knit community thanks to the way things are structured.
Not sure if you want to attend? Take a tour onsite and talk to some current students… it’s probably the best way to figure out if IMSA is for you…

Nobody reviewed IMSA yet? Let me remedy this immediately. I loved my three years here. For prospective students out there, IMSA can be quite an adjustment. I remember being so homesick the first couple of weeks that I almost went back to my home school.
BUT, if you manage to get through the homesickness, the 7:00PM check, and the nauseating cafeteria slop (ahem, I mean food), you’ll actually start to enjoy this place and maybe even learn a thing or two.
You’ll make some of the closest friends of your life at IMSA. You have the opportunity to take classes that most other schools don’t even offer. You will bond with your top-​notch teachers (heck, I’m even inviting a couple to my upcoming wedding!).
If you give it a fair chance, you’ll grow to love this place. Unless you’re really REALLY into high school football. Then you’re screwed.